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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on May 28, 2021 18:23:39 GMT -5
As many have heard, rumours were rapid back then that Shawn Michaels didn't want to lose to Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 14. Undertaker even went on to tape up and wait at the Gorilla position in case. So let's say Shawn didn't want to job to Austin that night, and we have a Montreal Screw Job at Wrestlemania ordeal happen, how would that go down??
Would they do a finish on HBK like they did to Bret?? Because clearly Shawn would be too smart to fall for that after what he did to Bret months earlier.
Would Taker really go down to ringside and beat the crap out of Shawn on live PPV in a shoot?? That seems "highly unlikely" as Gino Monsoon would say, but never say never.
Would Austin just shoot on Shawn in the match to get the pin?? I don't know if Steve is that much of a shooter though.
Would Vince have told Mike Tyson to go in and knock out Shawn for real so Austin could get the pin and win the WWF Title?? Perhaps! Fans would eat that up alive.
So what does everyone think?? How would they get the belt off Shawn if he chose to not lay it down that night for Austin??
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Post by Evil Abed on May 28, 2021 18:42:37 GMT -5
Would have been interesting if Vince would have to come back out the next time and re-give his “time honored tradition” speech and if he would have done the same with Shawn. Personally I feel he wouldn’t have pulled a fast one on Shawn the same way he did Bret.
I assume they prob pull a fast count on Shawn (not that Tysons wasn’t a fast count to begin with, maybe for that fear of Shawn deciding otherwise on the outcome?) Vince comes out the next night and cuts some heel promo on Shawn talking about authority and ends up with Austin basically going the same route saying Shawn being a problem will be nothing compared to him... etc, etc... The next night probably doesn’t look so different then how it played out. McMahon trying to side with Austin and Austin having none of it.
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Post by K5 on May 28, 2021 19:17:17 GMT -5
let's be honest, Michaels and Vince would've argued and Michaels would've forfeited yet another championship like he had already.
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Post by jason88cubs on May 29, 2021 11:00:57 GMT -5
Vince probably wouldn't have brought him back for a VERY long time
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Old Zeke
Main Eventer
'Fraid old Zeke, he rides up here with me. Can't trust a pig with watermelons, you know.
Joined on: Jun 24, 2019 13:46:50 GMT -5
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Post by Old Zeke on May 29, 2021 11:08:27 GMT -5
Austin would've shot on him and forced a pin.
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Post by MKSavage on May 29, 2021 12:15:51 GMT -5
Apparently Undertaker would have beat his a$$... if the rumors are true...
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Post by JokerFC on May 30, 2021 5:04:23 GMT -5
let's be honest, Michaels and Vince would've argued and Michaels would've forfeited yet another championship like he had already. Here's your answer. K5 nails it...Michaels was being a lot of trouble going into this & apparently? Vince was 100% prepared for him to forfeit. It's not like he hadn't done it before.... The UT thing is true. Although most say when Michaels turned up for WM they knew it'd be ok. Most feel it was just him mouthing off to be heard or stay relevant as he felt the train was leaving the station without him. He was right... |
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rateddal
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Post by rateddal on May 30, 2021 7:00:03 GMT -5
I think it was Triple H who nailed it in Shawn's documentary, basically Shawn felt his time had come and gone without a defining moment.
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Post by Emerald Enthusiast on May 31, 2021 5:42:40 GMT -5
So what does everyone think?? How would they get the belt off Shawn if he chose to not lay it down that night for Austin?? Shawn was angry and frustrated, but he never intended to avoid the job. Think what you will about him, but he was very noticeably injured. Had he wanted to weasel out of the situation, he likely would have gone home, sent the belt to Vince, and just said that he wouldn't return long before WM. As for any ideas for a double-cross, it would have been easy to rectify. Had Shawn tried to leave, the WWF could have announced that if Shawn didn't return to the ring, Austin would win the match and the title. The crowd would have been unhappy, and the WWF could have used subsequent broadcasts to let everyone know that it was Shawn's fault that the event ended in a count-out. I also don't believe the Taker story. There might have been various guys reminding Shawn that he had a duty to the people who were still working for the company, but both Taker and Vince were too smart to let something like that happen backstage. The WWF would have been liable had they allowed an injured performer to be attacked on the job by a much larger man. Taker would have gotten in serious legal trouble, as would have the WWF. Events happened the only way they were every going to happen. |
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Post by wolfpac on May 31, 2021 8:17:09 GMT -5
I think if they had the thought that Shawn wouldn't put Austin over, in the same vein as bret, He would have pulled Shawn from the match.
I don't think he would risk that situation again, with Bret he was leaving so he needed him to "lose on the way out" or whatever, with Shawn he was hurt, so just cancel the match - it sucks but with how brutal Montreal was he wouldn't want to repeat it so fast
Who replaces Shawn? Maybe HHH, Taker or he would really put the money on the table to get Hogan.
Also at the same time,I think as big of an bunghole Shawn is/was, if Vince put his foot down he would do the job... begrudgingly but he would do it.
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Post by K5 on May 31, 2021 9:05:56 GMT -5
So what does everyone think?? How would they get the belt off Shawn if he chose to not lay it down that night for Austin?? Shawn was angry and frustrated, but he never intended to avoid the job. Think what you will about him, but he was very noticeably injured. Had he wanted to weasel out of the situation, he likely would have gone home, sent the belt to Vince, and just said that he wouldn't return long before WM. As for any ideas for a double-cross, it would have been easy to rectify. Had Shawn tried to leave, the WWF could have announced that if Shawn didn't return to the ring, Austin would win the match and the title. The crowd would have been unhappy, and the WWF could have used subsequent broadcasts to let everyone know that it was Shawn's fault that the event ended in a count-out. I also don't believe the Taker story. There might have been various guys reminding Shawn that he had a duty to the people who were still working for the company, but both Taker and Vince were too smart to let something like that happen backstage. The WWF would have been liable had they allowed an injured performer to be attacked on the job by a much larger man. Taker would have gotten in serious legal trouble, as would have the WWF. Events happened the only way they were every going to happen. Taker has confirmed the wm14 fist taping... its well known that Michaels crapon the Austin idea, you cannot say he always intended to do the job. there's zero confirmation of that. they couldn't afford a double cross even with sloppy conditions to cover it like you suggested. wwf had invested all their future into this and needed Austin to get the clear w with Tyson raising his hand |
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Post by cordless2016 on May 31, 2021 13:12:45 GMT -5
If Michael refuses to do the job, it’s hard to say who would have filled in for him, especially if it was right before WM.
Taker was heavily involved in the Kane feud, so it’s hard to see Austin being inserted there.
HHH was still a midcarder at best (credibility wise), and they had botched Owen’s booking badly by that point, so they’re both out as well.
Rock was doing his Nation thing against Shamrock over the IC Title so I doubt they work with Austin.
The one who sticks out is Foley to me. If HBK pulled a fast one right before WM and they stripped him of the belt, I could see Vince turning Foley heel on Funk and setting up Austin/Foley for the belt at WM. Everyone else I mentioned above were either not ready for the main event of WM, or heavily involved in a feud where it would have been forced to add Austin.
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Post by whydontyoutellme on May 31, 2021 17:55:35 GMT -5
Forfeit. If he tried to pull something in-ring it would fail given that the referee wouldn't be no his side and Austin could beat his ass if need be.
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Post by Grenouille on May 31, 2021 18:35:56 GMT -5
I was at WrestleMania XIV. Based on how the crowd was, Austin could have faced Brooklyn Brawler and the crowd wouldn’t have cared as long as SCSA ended the show as WWF champion.
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Post by hbkjason on Jun 1, 2021 3:00:32 GMT -5
I know that no one was more unprofessional than Shawn Michaels at this time and the amount of titles he forfeited was just a joke, plus no other performer, not even Hogan seems to have had a hold on Vince like he did. However, despite knowing what an bunghole he was before the match and after it by all accounts, he gutted out a hell of a performance while being injured. You can see it on his face clear as day, it is kind of hard to watch actually. Especially when he drops that elbow off the top rope. I know that he pulled so much crap, but on this occasion (in the case at least) I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was really hurt.
Had he refused to do the job though, man, I just do not know what they would have done. Perhaps have Vince come down to the ring with the belt say he will hand it to Austin, Austin flip out saying he came to kick someones ass so puts a beating on Vince for five minutes, a few stunners on some officials and that may have been enough to pop people and get them happy?
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rateddal
Mid-Carder
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Post by rateddal on Jun 1, 2021 11:22:39 GMT -5
It is definetly clear in his expression that he was hurting and it really was hard to watch, particularly the Irish Whip back bump into the turnbuckle.
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Post by Hulkster2001 on Jun 4, 2021 20:34:09 GMT -5
Taker would've beaten the holy hell out of Shawn..
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Post by JokerFC on Jun 17, 2021 13:28:17 GMT -5
Lots of folks saying he was genuinely hurt...but I don't think anyone ever really disputes that HBK was seriously effed up in 98 going to WM14....
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Post by Emerald Enthusiast on Jun 21, 2021 0:16:40 GMT -5
Shawn was angry and frustrated, but he never intended to avoid the job. Think what you will about him, but he was very noticeably injured. Had he wanted to weasel out of the situation, he likely would have gone home, sent the belt to Vince, and just said that he wouldn't return long before WM. As for any ideas for a double-cross, it would have been easy to rectify. Had Shawn tried to leave, the WWF could have announced that if Shawn didn't return to the ring, Austin would win the match and the title. The crowd would have been unhappy, and the WWF could have used subsequent broadcasts to let everyone know that it was Shawn's fault that the event ended in a count-out. I also don't believe the Taker story. There might have been various guys reminding Shawn that he had a duty to the people who were still working for the company, but both Taker and Vince were too smart to let something like that happen backstage. The WWF would have been liable had they allowed an injured performer to be attacked on the job by a much larger man. Taker would have gotten in serious legal trouble, as would have the WWF. Events happened the only way they were every going to happen. its well known that Michaels crap on the Austin idea, you cannot say he always intended to do the job. there's zero confirmation of that. they couldn't afford a double cross even with sloppy conditions to cover it like you suggested. wwf had invested all their future into this and needed Austin to get the clear w with Tyson raising his hand People saw him taping his fists, but the most reliable reports say that there were never any words exchanged, and I don't think there was any chance that Taker would have actually attacked Michaels. Taker could have gotten some major criminal charges thrown his way had he assaulted an injured man. Neither a judge nor jury would care about the aura of the WWF title had Taker serious injured Shawn. I don't believe that Taker was stupid enough to have tried something that risky, even if he did hate HBK. Also, much like when Vince stopped Hogan and Sheik from trying to legitimately injure Warrior at SummerSlam '91, Vince undoubtedly had a close eye on the situation given the ill will that Shawn had created. He would not have wanted a huge lawsuit, so I'm guessing there were more than a few people willing to quickly intervene in the unlikely case that Taker threw caution to the wind and attacked Shawn. On the flip side, while Shawn was clearly upset, living a risky lifestyle, and difficult on the job. But had he to tried to screw up Wrestlemania, that might have been career suicide. Austin confirmed just how upset the locker room was with him when he left in 2002, and he was in a much standing than HBK in '98. Michaels would have risked getting blackballed from the WWF, if not wrestling completely. Intentionally sabotaging a major show would have made everyone in the business wary of Shawn far beyond his previous antics. Even though he might not have believed that he could have come back as an in-ring performer, he would have risked being used in any capacity. He was reckless back then, but he wasn't that stupid. I've always believed that this is one of those situations where wrestling embellishment took over and made the story far, far greater than what it was. Shawn didn't want to do the job, but he knew that he had no other choice. That's why he actually showed up and did what he was supposed to do. |
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Jun 21, 2021 0:31:29 GMT -5
Taker has confirmed the wm14 fist taping... its well known that Michaels crap on the Austin idea, you cannot say he always intended to do the job. there's zero confirmation of that. they couldn't afford a double cross even with sloppy conditions to cover it like you suggested. wwf had invested all their future into this and needed Austin to get the clear w with Tyson raising his hand People saw him taping his fists, but the most reliable reports say that there were never any words exchanged, and I don't think there was any chance that Taker would have actually attacked Michaels. Taker could have gotten some major criminal charges thrown his way had he assaulted an injured man. Neither a judge nor jury would care about the aura of the WWF title had Taker serious injured Shawn. I don't believe that Taker was stupid enough to have tried something that risky, even if he did hate HBK. Also, much like when Vince stopped Hogan and Sheik from trying to legitimately injure Warrior at SummerSlam '91, Vince undoubtedly had a close eye on the situation given the ill will that Shawn had created. He would not have wanted a huge lawsuit, so I'm guessing there were more than a few people willing to quickly intervene in the unlikely case that Taker threw caution to the wind and attacked Shawn. On the flip side, while Shawn was clearly upset, living a risky lifestyle, and difficult on the job. But had he to tried to screw up Wrestlemania, that might have been career suicide. Austin confirmed just how upset the locker room was with him when he left in 2002, and he was in a much standing than HBK in '98. Michaels would have risked getting blackballed from the WWF, if not wrestling completely. Intentionally sabotaging a major show would have made everyone in the business wary of Shawn far beyond his previous antics. Even though he might not have believed that he could have come back as an in-ring performer, he would have risked being used in any capacity. He was reckless back then, but he wasn't that stupid. I've always believed that this is one of those situations where wrestling embellishment took over and made the story far, far greater than what it was. Shawn didn't want to do the job, but he knew that he had no other choice. That's why he actually showed up and did what he was supposed to do.
Undertaker himself said on the Steve Austin podcast on the WWE Network that he was at Gorilla and would go after HBK if he didn't lay it down for Austin. So it does have some factual truth to it.
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